She was named Dedi Yuliardi Ashadi at birth, and was raised by
her grandmother after both parents died when she was a year old.
Her grandmother brought her to while still at elementary school,
singing with a group called the Bambang Brothers. In her teens Dedi
began to appear on stage in women's clothes, and took the stage
name Dorce Ashadi.[1]
She later underwent sex reassignment surgery in Surabaya.[2]

Dorce has three adopted children and owns a number of orphanages
that have cared for thousands of children [1]

Dorce is currently the host of the popular mid-morning Dorce
Show on the Trans TV
network in Indonesia, and has written an autobiography entitled
Aku Perempuan. She is of Minangkabau descent.

On 9 November 2008, Dorce attended the funeral of Imam Samudra, one of
the men executed for the 2002 Bali bombings. She spent half
an hour in the house of the executed man and spoke with his mother.
On leaving she was quoted as saying "I'm certain he's gone to
heaven".[3]